Training for CONTACT Rape Crisis Center began this week. Volunteers met Monday evening to start the three-day training. Training continues for the next three Monday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Funded by donations and federal grants, CONTACT offers rape victims "an outlet that allows them to talk about how they feel," said volunteer Brianna M. Loyd, a senior counseling major. "We don't put pressure on them and support them unconditionally," she said.
CONTACT currently has about 15 volunteers. Half of them are college students, said Sharon Pressman, executive director of the Huntington branch office.
Many college students are required to volunteer to fulfill various obligations and the rape crisis center offers students the opportunity to reach out to others.
"You always feel better when you're helping others," Loyd said.
Volunteers could find themselves counseling fellow students.
"One in four college-aged females will be sexually assaulted sometime during their stay on campus," Pressman said.
If a person is sexually assaulted, CONTACT can support the victim at the hospital and through court proceedings.
A person doesn't need to have experienced a sexual assault recently. Any sexual assault victim can call the hotline anytime and speak with a volunteer or staff member, said Sharon Webb, Sexual Assault Response Team coordinator.
All information is kept confidential.
The Marshall University Office of Public Safety Web site states there were no reports of rape for last year.
Despite the statistic, Webb urges students to be cautious and be aware of whom they are leaving with, particularly when they are attending parties. "(Where) there's parties, there's a lot of people," she said.
"CONTACT has been a really rewarding place to volunteer," Loyd said, and suggests it to anyone who is looking for a volunteer opportunity.
Anyone with questions can contact the rape crisis training office at 1-304-523-3447.
The local 24 hour rape crisis hotline is 1-304-399-1111 and toll free is 1-866-399-RAPE(7273).
Jennifer Reynolds can be contacted at reynolds39@marshall.edu.
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